Clydesdale Bank Announces Partnership with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance

19th May 2014

Clydesdale Bank has today (19 May 2014) unveiled a new partnership with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), to support the organisation in delivering its invaluable frontline life-saving service across the length and breadth of Scotland.

SCAA is the country’s only charity funded helicopter air ambulance. It has responded to almost 300 emergency time-critical callouts in its inaugural year.

The launch of the community partnership between Clydesdale Bank and SCAA has provided additional cause for celebration as the charity marked its first anniversary and reflected on an outstanding introductory year.

Since its launch, this life-saving service has complemented and enhanced existing Government-funded resources.

Nearly half of all emergencies attended by SCAA have been trauma, followed by medical and cardiac assistance. Emergency callouts have seen the team fly to road accidents, sporting incidents, equestrian accidents, strokes as well as responding to heart attacks. The charity’s centrally-located base at Perth Airport means it can reach 90% of Scotland’s population within 30 minutes. 

David Thorburn, Chief Executive of Clydesdale Bank, said: “Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance makes a vital contribution to communities right across Scotland.  It’s an essential service which provides rapid and often life-saving transport for people caught up in a wide range of incidents and emergencies. 

“We’re delighted to be joining forces with SCAA in what has been a hugely successful first year, and we look forward to supporting the charity’s invaluable service.  Our partnership with SCAA is much more than a financial sponsorship. We’ll also be assisting the charity through a range of activities contributing support and expertise wherever we can help them make a difference to our communities.”

Gavin Davey, Chief Executive of SCAA, said: “A year ago we set out to save lives and get people to hospital quickly, and having been called upon 300 times we have done exactly that. There are few parts of Scotland that are untouched by the work of our helicopter and highly professional crew and we have been pleased to be able to support communities across the country.

“Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance is pleased to announce a significant partnership with Clydesdale Bank which will be instrumental in enabling us to provide our life-saving service right across Scotland and for that we, and our patients, are deeply indebted.  We very much hope this partnership will have us working closely together to give something back to communities all over Scotland.”

SCAA’s first anniversary event also saw Scottish-based amateur pilot Dave McElroy (66) set off from the charity’s Perth Airport base on an 80-day round the world flight.  The historic 59,000 km charity fundraising venture in a single engine Piper Comanche will feature 52 stops in 25 countries on five continents and the crossing of most of the world’s major seas and oceans.

Dave, who is chairman of the Scottish Aero Club and recently retired vice president of Stirlingshire-based wood panel manufacturer Norbord Europe Ltd., hopes to raise around £150,000 for SCAA in only the second ever such flight to set off from Scotland.

Dave was officially waved off by local MSP and Government minister John Swinney and cheering supporters.

John Swinney MSP, said: “It’s a great pleasure to be attending this first anniversary event which, as well as a cause for celebration marking a very successful first year, is also an opportunity for me to record my gratitude to those who conceived this service and who worked tirelessly to make it such a successful reality.

 “We must remember that though based here in Scone, this charity-funded air ambulance services and benefits communities all over Scotland and provides welcome additional capacity to existing air ambulance coverage in Scotland. This enterprise represents the very best in cooperation between public, private and charitable sectors and it’s this partnership approach which has enabled this excellent service to become a sustainable reality.”
 
For further information about Clydesdale Bank’s partnership with SCAA, please visit  http://www.cbonline.co.uk/we-care-about-here/air-ambulance